New Resource: Maternal Suicide Care Pathway
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health has released its Optimal Maternal Suicide Care Pathway, a valuable new resource to help healthcare providers assess and respond to suicidal thoughts and behaviors during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
A key message of this pathway is that a positive response to a suicide or self-harm screening question does not automatically indicate imminent suicide risk or the need for emergency department evaluation. Instead, providers should conduct additional assessment to better understand the patient's level of risk and identify the most appropriate response.
The pathway emphasizes a trauma-informed, individualized, and least-restrictive approach to suicide care, including:
- Going beyond initial screening: Using validated tools and clinical assessment to better understand suicide risk, protective factors, and appropriate next steps.
- Recognizing perinatal-specific considerations: Differentiating suicidal thoughts from intrusive thoughts associated with perinatal OCD, while also assessing for depression, mania, and psychosis.
- Supporting appropriate intervention: Emphasizing collaborative safety planning, connection to treatment, and coordinated follow-up based on the patient's clinical needs.
The pathway aligns with recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and MCPAP for Moms and offers practical guidance for providers navigating these complex clinical situations.
Explore the Maternal Suicide Care Pathway: https://policycentermmh.org/maternal-suicide-care-pathway/
Watch the Accompanying Webinar: Maternal Suicide Prevention Strategies
The Policy Center also hosted a webinar exploring maternal suicide prevention, including suicide screening and assessment, differentiating suicidal ideation from other perinatal mental health symptoms, safety planning, and appropriate clinical responses.
Watch the webinar recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxP9xFEpmY8
